Getting Help with Child Care

GETTING HELP WITH CHILD CARE

In Pennsylvania there are programs to help pay for the cost of child care. The following information explains how to locate a child care program in your area and how to get assistance paying for child care.

How do I get help findingchild care?

No matter how you are paying for child care your countyChild Care Information Services (CCIS)can help you find a child care provider. For information, call your county office listed below:

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Child Care and Early Learning Choices

Head Start and Early Head Start

Head Start and Early Head Start provide free, comprehensive child development and family support services, for low-income families. To be eligible, families must have an annual income of 100% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (FPIG). This means a family of four cannot earn more than $21,200 a year.

Head Start is a pre-school program serving three and four-year-old children. Early Head Start serveschildren from birth to three years old. Head Start programs are usually part-day (4 to 6 hours a day) and part-year (in session during the school year).

Pre-K Counts

Pre-K Counts provides free half and full-day pre-kindergarten in either a school, child care center, Head Start, or licensed nursery school program. Pre-K Counts is for children from age 3 until they enter kindergarten and are at risk of school failure either because of low-income, language (English is not their first language), or special needs.

You can call or visit your countyCCIS for a list of Head Start and Pre-K Counts programs in your community and find out how to enroll your child. You can find your county CCIS listed on the previous page.

If I am receiving public benefits, how can I get help with paying for child care?

Parents applying for cash assistance (TANF) or food stampsmay be eligible for child care subsidy from the County Assistance Office (CAO) while working or attending an approved training or education program. An Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (AMR) must be completed. Your AMR is a plan of activities you agree to do to get a job. It is also a plan for how DPW will help you get the services you need to find a job, including paying for child care. Make sure your need for child care is included in your AMR. Your AMR can be changed at anytime and updated if you have additional children.

My family receives food stamps, but no cash assistance. Can I get help paying for child care?

If you are receiving food stamps, but nocash assistanceand meet the requirements of the Employment and Training Program (ETP), you may be eligible for child care assistance while going to an approved school or training program. The child care assistance must be written into your ETP. When you finish your ETP, and find a job, but you are still receiving food stamps, you will no longer be eligible to receive child care benefits under the CAO. You will have to apply for child care benefits with your CCIS office. You can receive child care benefits while working and receiving food stamps but these benefits are provided through the CCIS and not the CAO.

What is the Child Care Subsidy Program?

The Child Care Subsidy Program helps low-income working families pay for child care. The program serves children from birth until the day beforethe child’s 13th birthday. Disabled children between the ages of 13 and 19 may be eligible for the child care subsidy if the child is unable to care for him or herself.

The Child Care Subsidy Program is managed by your countyCCIS. The CCIS pays part of the weekly child care fee which is the subsidy payment. The parent pays a portion of the weekly child care fee which is the co-payment. The subsidy and co-payment go directly to the child care provider.

Is my family eligible for a child care subsidy?

You may be eligible for a child care subsidy if you meet the income and work or education requirements. See income eligibility chart on last page.

To meet the work and education requirements you must:

• Work at least 20 hours a week, or
• Work at least 10 hours per week and go to an approved education and training program for a minimum of 10 hours per week, or
• Attend high school full time if you are under age 22, or
• Attend high school or another approved educational program if you are under age 18, or
• Have a job that will start within 30 days of the application for subsidized child care.

How much is my co-payment?

The co-payment is based on familyincome and family size. A family has only one co-payment no matter how many children are in child care.

What types of child care programs are covered?

An eligible child care provider could be a child care center, a small family day care home, a group day care home or even a relative or neighbor who has met certain state requirements. The co-payment is the same no matter what type of child care the parent chooses.

How can I apply for a child care subsidy?

You can call or visit your countyCCIS to request an application and to ask for further information.You may also apply for subsidy on COMPASS You can find a listing of your county CCIS agency listed on the first page.

When will my subsidized child care begin?

If you meet the guidelines for the subsidyCCIS, will send you a Child Care Eligible Notice. If funds are available, subsidized payments begin the date that your application was received in the CCIS office. Within 30 days you need to have a face-to-face interview with the CCIS worker, select an eligible child care program and enroll your child. If funds are not available your name will be placed on a waiting list and the CCIS will send you a letter when theybecome available.

What else should I know about subsidy?

If your cash assistance stopped within the last 6 months, you are eligible for continued child care assistance as long as you meet the 20 hour-a-week work requirement. The CCIS will be notified electronically when your cash assistance closed and will contact you. You will also receive information from your CAO to contact your localCCIS office. It is very important when your cash benefits end that you contactyour local CCIS!

AM I ELIGIBLE?

CCIS CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM

2008 Child Care Eligibility Calculations

By YEARLY Income

2008 Child Care Eligibility Calculations

By MONTHLY Income

Updated 7/08